Engine-starter



M. P WHiTNEY ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.Z3, 19%20.

Emma NW2 1321.

2 3HEET3-SHEET l.

l r Immm M. P. WHITNEY. ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED Aumzs, 1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

; UNITED STATES PATENT orries.

.MAURICE P. WHITNEY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YQIt-K, ASSIGEOR TO EGLIPEKE CQMPANY, or ELMIBLA, NEW Yonn. A CORIORATIUN er new krona.

mourn-summons.

To all whom it may cmweim Be it known that I, MAUmoE P. WVHITNEY, a citizenotthe United States, residin at Elmira, in the county of C'hemung and. State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Enginer-Starters, of which the following is'a specification. ,My invention relates to a starter for engines siichas internal combustioneligines and has more particular relation to the drive or transmissionconnection between the primemover such as an electric motor and a part of the engine to be started such "as-the" flywheel thereof. The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of drive or transmission having new and useful functions and mode of operation. and capable of being operatively efl'ective by manual or pedal ope'ratior'i and of being automatically rendered ineffective or disengaged when the engine starts on it's own power. I h

In the drawings'Figure 1 is an end eleva tion'of a startei apparatus embodying" my. invention, showing a portion of such apparatus'broken away; Fig. 2 an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 a sectional elevation on the line 3-3,of,Fig;=1 but on a larger scale; and Figs. 4 and detail sectional views of a portion, of the apparatus showingparts thereof in different positions. .Referring to the embodiment of my in vention which I have selected and heroin shown for the purpose of making a clearj and definite description of my invention, the

same comprises aprime. ,movcrsuch an electric motor 1, an engmemem-her-or. i ywlreel ,2 a11d the drive or transmission which connects therebetween and which constitutes my invention. k v

he motor frame has an end plate or cover 3 secured theretoand having a portion de.

pending below the lower line of the motor' A casing 4 which substiintially.incloses the drive "is secured in suitable manner to the plate 3 and the same by preference supports 5 for'the motor circuit (not tended armature shaft of the motor, is provided with an inner bearing. 1 in the'platefl and an'onter -bearing 8 -in the casing 4.1-

1 Upon this shaft there is mounted a pinion 9 capable of rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof.- According Patented Nov. 8, 19211.

to the construction being described, .this

pinion has a smooth hore adapted to slide 1 upon the smooth portion i0 ofthe shaft and is also provided with a huh or sleeve extension ll which is operatively connectcdfwith the shaft Gin suitable manner as by means of thesplines 12 coiiperating with. comple Inentai'y grooves or ways 1.3 in such hub. This pinion 9 is provided with spiral gear teeth for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Upon the hub 1h there is slidably mounted a sleeve 14.- which is yieldingly held in a direction away from the pinion and against a stop collar 15 by a coiled spring 16. To hold the sleeve in the relative position with respect to the huh, shown in Fig. 4, I employ suitable nieans which here consists of a latch 17 pixoted at one end in a'cavity 18, in the shaftand held yieldingly projected into a slot- 19 in the hub by means of. a spring 20.

A parallel shaft or countershaft 21 .is

mounted,within the casing); 41-, one end heing 'ing ineinbewwhich. is here in theform of a, pinion 25 having teeth adapted to engage with the teeth 2* oi? the ii y wheel E2 but which are normally out oi en asement therewith as shown ii pinion is mounted on the shat so L to rotate thev thnnd to move longritralinally tinned andtherehy engage the flywheel teeth and subsequently rotate thesenie thronghits d riveeonnection with such. shaft In the present instance; this pinion is splined on to shaft 21 by meansof the splines '26, and has a lOIlfll". tudinzil sleeve or hub .27 which. extends toward the gear 24k and which is operatively f connected with a shell mounted toslide the shaft 21. ,JlChasleevo 2? and shelim28' have a telescoping iihaiid a yielding longi-t tndina]. movement on e with respect to the other, by means 0 spring; 29 and of. as pin and-slot connqlfn'the present in.-, stance apinBO is mounted in the she11 28.;

"and the cciiperatinp; slot rglis provided i t the 4 sleeve 27'.

.Describing the operating means which for convenience will he reiterredto manually along the shaft and the to the pinion 9. Likewise, as ,is connected with the shell 28, the shiftin operated although covering pedal operation and which are in common with both reciprocating sleeve 14 and shell 28, the same consists of a plunger or depressible rod 32 having a cap or button 33 within convenient reach of the operator and normally held upwardly with a'yielding pressure in suitable manner as by means of the coiled spring 34. This plunger is mounted to slide vertically in formed in a point within the casing there is pivoted a pawl 37 whichis spring pressed to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 38'and stopped at said position by means of the pin 39. 'Within the path of movement of this pawl there is positioned a finger 40 which is secured to a transverse rock shaft 41 mounted within the casing.

suitable guides 35 and 36 here 7 his rock shaft is provided with two diametrically opposite yokes 42 and 43, the former having its yoke ends engaging the circumferential groove 44 in the sleeve 14 other havingits yoke ends engaging the circumferential groove 45 in the shell 28.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with parts in their normal position as shown in 'Fig. 3, when the operator depresses the'plunger 32 the pawl 37 will contact the finger 40 and rock the shaft 41 in an anti-clockwise direction. As a result the sleeve 14 and consequently the pinion 9 will be moved longitudinally to the left along the shaft 6 into mesh with the gear 24 and likewise the shell 28 and consequently the pinion 25 will be moved longitudinally to the right 21 into mesh with the fly- Wheel. Inasmuch as the yoke 42 is connected with the sleeve 14 the shifting force will be transmitted through such'sleeve and spring the yoke 43 force will be transmitted through such she I and spring 29 to the pinion 25. 7 When these shifting movements are completed the screw 46 which is'adjustably mounted in the brackets 47 of the plunger contacts the button 48 of the motor switch 5 and thereby causes current to be supplied to the motor. How ever, the construction and arrangement are such that this switch operation takes place after the plunger has been depressed sufficientto cause the pawl 37 to clear the arm 40, with the result that the parts are placed in position for demeshing beforerthe motor is operated. The motor and its shaft will now'be rotated and the torque will be trans- 'mitted through the pinion 9, gear 24, shaft 21 and pinion 25 to the flywheel. The flywheel will now be rotated and whenthe engine has started on its own power the two pinions 9 and 25 will be automatically demeshed, due to the,spiral gear teeth on pinion 9 and gear 24 whereby the pinion is mgved-automatically to the right thereby the casing 4. Upon the plunger at withdrawing pinion 25 from mesh owing to the connecting means between the sleeve 14 and shell 28 that is the rock shaft 41 and yoke s 42 and 43. It will be understood that as soon as the engine starts on its own power the operator may release the pressure on the plunger ind permit the latter to rise to normal position, which is possible owing to the fact that the pawl 37 will on its upward movement wipe-by'the finger 40 without any effect thereon. I

The yielding shifting connection. for the pinion 25 consisting of the shell '28 telescoping therewith and the spring29 is provided to prevent jamming of the pinion teeth of the pinion 25 with theflywheel teeth in the event that such teeth should abut end to end instead of registering when the pinion 25 is shifted to meshing position. It will be observed that in case such abutting of teeth occurs, the shell 28 will continue to be moved longitudinally independently of the pinion by reason of its pin and slot connection with the sleeve 27, without placing any undue pressure upon the pinion 25. Just as soon as the gear 24 is moved slightly in the initial rotation of the motor and the pinion 25 thereby slightly rotated, such pinion will be projected into mesh by the spring 29 which is now under some compression.

In like manner, the yielding shifting connection associated with the pinion 9 serves to prevent jamming of the teeth of such pinion and of the gear 24, when they happen to meet 'end to end. When such occurs, the'sleeve 14 will continue to move against thepressure of spring 16, when the pinion is stoppedin its longitudinal mo ment by the gear 24 (Fi 4), and, on the first rotative movement 0 the pinion by its shaft 6, so as to obtain proper register of the teeth, the pinion will be rejected into full mesh with the gear 24 (F 1g. When 'the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 4 the latch 17 engages one end of the sleeve and holds it in its shifted position relative to the pinion, However, when the pinion moves into mesh with the gear, the contact of the rear end of the sleeve 11 with the latch will withdraw the latter from such engagement, whereupon these parts will resume their normal relative position.

As shown, the clearance between the driving member 25 and the flywheel 'gear is somewhat greater than the clearance between the pinion 9 and the gear 24. This is done to take care of a possible condition where the pinion properly registers and meshes; with the gear but the driving member abyPs the flywheel gear. In such event, the rotixtion of the motor will bring the pinion into full mesh and cause compression of spring29 through the yoke connections described. Upon rotation of the driven shaft the driving member 25,will bebrought I into register with the flywheel and the spring rotary movement therewith and longitudinal the gear but adapted to be manually oper-' 'ated for engagement therewlth, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine. to be started and for into mesh with the gear and for simultanerdisengagement therefrom, and means for transmitting the longitudinal shifting movements of the pinionito the driving member.

2. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these shafts including a gear on the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adaptedto be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, and a single means located between the two shafts for shifting the pinion longitudinally'in one direction ously shifting the driving member into mesh with the engine member.

i the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on 3'. An engine starter drive comprising a drivlng'shaft, a driven shaft, reduction'gearing between these shafts including a gear on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to'be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaftfor rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with amember'of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, anda normallyoperated rock shaft located between the two shafts and operatively connected with the pinion and driving member respectively for shifting them respectively longitudinally of their shafts.

4. An engine starter "drive comprising a driving shaft, a] driven shaft, reduction. gearing between these shafts includinga gear on the driven shaft and a pinion mount ed on the driving shaft for rotary movement I therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to be manually operated for eng agement therewith, a; driving member mountedflon the drivelrshaft tudinal movement the reof' for" engagement with a member of the engine to be 'started and for: disengagement therefrom, and a manually operated rock shaft located. be;

. for rotary movement therewith and longi tween the two shafts and having two yokes disposed on. diametrically opposite sides and operating connections between-the yokes and the pinion and driving member respectively for shifting them longitudinally ontheirshafts. f y

5. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft. a driven shaft, rednction gearing between these shafts including a gear im the driven shaftanda pi i nmoi ted on the driving shaft for rotary movement there/ "with and longitudinal movementthereof,

said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear ,but adapted to be manually o er: ated for engagement tl erewitlna driving member mounted on the driven shaft-for" rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement withjfla member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, and a manually operated rock shaft located between the two shaftsandhaving two 'yokes disposed on diametrically opposite sides and operating connections between theyok'es and the pmion and. driving member respeetivelydfor shifting them longitud nally on their shafts,

said'operating connection with the pinihir inclurhng a yielding devlce cooperat ng therewith.

6. An engine starter drive' comprising a driving shaft, 'a driven shaft, reduction gGflITfl disengagement therefrom, and a manually,- operated rock shaft located between the two shafts and having two yokes disposed on diametrically opposite sides and operating ion and driving member respectively for shifting them longitudinally on their shafts, said operating connection with the driving member including a yielding device coo'per ating therewith. v

7. An engine starter drive comprising a driving: shaftfa driven shaft reduetion' gear-I ing between these shafts nelu dlng a gear on the driven shaft and" a'"p1n1o'n mounted onthe' driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement therepinion being normally disengaged I connections between the yokes and the pin of,- said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to be manually operated for engagement therewith,- a driv- .the two shafts and having two yokes disposed on. diametrically opposite sides and operating connections between the yokes and thepinion and driving member respectively for shifting them longitudinally on their shafts, said operating connections including two yielding devices cooperating with the pinion and driving member respectively.

8. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction 'gearing between these shafts including a gear on the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and' longitudinal" movement thereof, said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member-mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, and means for transmitting the longitudinal shifting movements of the pinion to the driving member, said pinion and gear having coiiperatmg means for automatically shifting the pinion longitudinally of'its shaft in a direction to disengage it from the gear when the engine starts on, its ownl power.

9. An ,en ine starter drive comprising a driving sha t, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these shafts including a gear on the dr vien shaftand a pinion mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof said'pinion being normally disengaged 3 from thefgear but adapted to be manually 'operat'fifor engagement therewith, a. driving. member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitu- .dinal movement thereof for engagement with a memb r of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, and means for transmitting the longitudinal shifting movements of the pinion to the driving member,'said pinion and gear having e06, erating spiral gear teeth for automatical y shifting the pinion longitudinally on its shaft in a direction to disengage it from the gear when the engine starts on its own power.

10. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these shafts including a gear on the driven shaftand a pinion mounted ,-on., the driving shaft for rotary movement there;

member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, and a single means located between the two shafts for shifting the pinion longitudinally in one direction into mesh with the gear and for simultaneously shifting the driving member into mesh with the engine member, said pinion and gear having coijperating spiral gear teeth for automatically shifting the pinion longitudinally in the opposite direction to disengage it from the gear when the engine starts on its own power. d

11; An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these shafts including a gear on the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion being'l'lormally disengaged from the gear but adapted to be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudi: nal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, said pinion and gear having cooperating spiral gear teeth for automatically shifting the pinion longitudinally in a direction to disengage it from the gear, and a single operating means for shifting the pinion in the opposite direction and for simultaneously shifting the driving member into engagement with the engine member.

12. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these shafts including a gear dn the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on the driving sl aft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof,

said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to ben1ani1ally.,operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for retary movements therewith and longitudinal -movement thereof for engagement with a from the gear, and a. single operating means for shifting the pinion in the oaposite direction and for simultaneously shifting the driving member intijgengagement with the engine member, said oi ierating means including a rock shaft havingioperating connections with the pinion and driving member respectively, and a manually operated plunger cooperating with the rock shaft to rock it in one direction only.

13. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gearing between these Shafts including a gear on the driven shaft and a pinion mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion bein normally disengaged from the gear but a apted to be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disen agement therefrom, said pinion and ear aving cooperating spiral gear teeth or automatically shifting the pinion longitudinally in a direction to disengage it from the gear, and a single operating means for shifting the pinion 1n the o ositr direction and for simultaneously shi ing the driving member into engagement with the engine member, said operating means includinga rook shaft havin operating connections with the pinion an dr ving member respectively, an arm on the rock shaft, and a manually operated plunger having means cooperating with such arm for rocking it and its shaft iir-one direction only.

14. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reduction gear- .on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion being normally disengaged from the gear but adapted to be manually operated for engagement therewith, a driving member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started and for disengagement therefrom, said pinion and gear having cooperating spiral gear teeth for automatically shifting the pinion longitudinally in a direction to disengage it from the gear, and a single operating means for shiftingthe pinion in the opposite direction and for simultaneously shifting the driving member into engagement with the engine member, saidoperating means including a rock shaft having operating connections with the pinion and driving member respectively, an arm on the rock shaft, a manually operated plunger, and a pawl pivoted on the plunger and adapted to engage and rock the arm in one direction of movement and to clear the same on its return movement in the opposite direction.

MAURICE 'P. WHITNEY. I 

